Father Owes More Than $88,000 Receives 18-Month State Jail Sentence

state.tx.us, Dec 06, 2006

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today applauded the conviction of Marvin Goudeau on one count of criminal nonsupport for failing to support his two minor children, who live with their mother in Port Arthur. Goudeau, 37, was found guilty Friday by Criminal District Court Judge Charles D. Carver, and sentenced to 18 months in state jail. The case was brought by Jefferson County District Attorney Tom Maness.

“Tom Maness is a district attorney who believes there must be consequences for parents who turn their backs on their children by refusing to support them,” said Attorney General Abbott. “Parents who display a callous disregard for their children's well being must be punished.”

At Friday's trial, Goudeau acknowledged using no money from a $10,000 inheritance to pay his child support.

In July 1996, Goudeau was ordered to pay $585 a month for his two children's care. After repeated violations of civil court orders to pay child support, an investigator from the Attorney General's Child Support Division presented the case to District Attorney Maness for criminal prosecution. Maness, who has a proven record holding parents accountable to pay child support, obtained the criminal indictment against Goudeau in September. He has been incarcerated in the county jail since that time on the felony charges. Read more at state.tx.us